[Album & MV Review] HISTORY - 'HIM'

AKP STAFF

HISTORY - 'HIM'

Track List:

1. Wild Boy
2. Queen
3. Baby, Hello
4. Whenever (Dokyun Solo)
5. LOST
6. Liar
7. Wild Boy (Inst.)
8. Queen (Inst.)

LOEN Entertainment's first boy band is back! After four mini-albums, three singles, and two Japanese singles, HISTORY returns with the brand new EP 'HIM.' Their fifth mini-album features the title track "Queen." Word is there's actually two versions of this disc: The Spade version, which includes "Lost," and the Heart version, with "Liar" (or, rather, their Korean equivalents). All five members had a hand in writing and composing this one.

So the EP kicks off with "Wild Boy," which starts out with thrumming bass and pounding beat, eventually giving way to some squeezed synths. It's a playful tune, the overall mood matching the lyrics about being a wild boy and that they're here to party.

"Queen" is their title track. It's a fun-loving tune, beginning with a nightcore-inspired synth; it soon gives way to sassy horns and a quick beat. You have to be dead not to dance to this one, even if their pronunciation of "Queen" is funny. The message is simple; the song's got rather racy lyrics about alcohol, gambling, and sexy times.

The next song is "Baby, Hello"; it's a smooth R&B tune sung to a strummed guitar and snaps, but it's got a great body-moving beat, starting out with an awesome rap. Before long, the tempo picks up and the beats are interspersed with smooth harmonies. It's a sweet missive to their lover.

"Whenever" is Dokyun's solo, an R&B ballad (what member solo isn't?). Dokhyun's voice sounds earnest and soulful here, and you can practically feel the emotions coming through in his performance. I do like the nods at some synth big sounds. It gets lost in strings here as Dokhyun's vox hits the high points just right. He's telling the girl that whenever she wants she can confide in him, and he'll be happy just having her there.

The last two tracks are Korean versions of Japanese releases:

"Lost" is from their 2015 single of the same name, only in Korean. It has an epic, movie-style beginning which it soon discards in favor of heavy, dubstep-style synth wubs. The complaint is that they've "lost" their relationship.

"Liar" is also from the same album. It's also from the 'Lost' single album. It's a slow to mid-tempo tune, with some definite nods to R&B, snaps, honey harmonies, the works. It's a bittersweet song apologizing for lying to her.

Overall, I like the sound they're going for. When they're turned up, that's when they really shine. The dance tracks are a sweet EDM nod, and their slower R&B stuff isn't too shabby, either. The presence of pre-release tracks tell you that this is their usual track record, and it's a welcome one. Big and loud should herald the coming of spring, and 'HIM' certainly has enough of that. :)

MV REVIEW

This MV appears not to have much going on, but there is a plot here, somewhere. There's a generous amount of performance shots, but the boys are also, individually, in pain or depressed or drunk or both, until the discovery of a puzzle piece puts things in perspective, and they discover the location of a throne and a mysterious implement on the throne which lights up when puzzle pieces are placed on it...

During the dance scenes, the boys are all dolled up in tuxes and the like, but there's plenty of fanservice here, which should leave fans both happy and wanting more. They're also decked out in standard clothes, in somewhat depressing colors, which is the mood they were going for.

The dancing is pretty top-notch, what we see of it. They appear to be going for some hip-hop moves here; I saw echoes of all sorts of different dances (including ones with sanitized names taught to kids), but the camera didn't linger long enough for a movement to complete.

Now, of course, this is all tangentially related to the point of the song. Yes, there are alcohol references, yes there are horns, and yes, the song is titled "Queen" (hence, the throne). Reaching? I dunno. I wasn't that entertained, but then I'm a straight male and clearly not the intended audience. Still, if you're into washboard abs, bathtub scenes, and generally hot guys, then this one is for you. The only thing it didn't have was skinship.

Score

MV Relevance..........7
MV Production.........7
MV Concept.............7
Album Production...9
Album Concept........8
Tracklisting..............8